Man enters guilty plea on drug charges

Official: Man 'quarterback' of meth effort

Official: Man 'quarterback' of meth effort

July 31, 2007|By Scott Waltman, American News Writer

The accused top person in a drug ring that supplied the Wakpala area with methamphetamine has pleaded guilty in federal court. Jorge Vasquez-Herrera, 40, of Mexico admitted to conspiracy to distribute/possession of with conspiracy to distribute meth. At the federal level, the crime is a felony punishable by as much as 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. During court hearings last week, assistant U.S. attorney Jay Miller said Vasquez-Herrera arranged for methamphetamine to be delivered to the Standing Rock Reservation. Miller said that at least some of the meth came from Denver. Comparing the people involved in the drug ring to a football team, Miller called Vasquez-Herrera the quarterback. Vasquez-Herrera admitted he helped distribute meth between Aug. 6, 2004, and Feb. 15, 2006. Vasquez-Herrera was not sentenced, but remains in custody. A presentence investigation was ordered. In the April drug bust, about 40 people were arrested in Mobridge, on the Standing Rock Reservation, the Cheyenne River Reservation and in other parts of the state. Authorities said a two-year investigation led to the arrests. Some of those arrested faced marijuana, not methamphetamine, charges. Other people involved in the case also recently entered guilty pleas in federal court. They include:

Evalee Crow, 34, of Wakpala to conspiracy to distribute/possession of with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

William Gullickson, 28, of Huron to conspiracy to distribute/possession of with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Luke Eagleman, 26, of White Horse to distribution of marijuana. The crime is a felony punishable by as much as five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Crow, Gullickson and Eagleman were not sentenced yet.